THE countdown has begun for an arts festival to be staged at a range of venues across Darlington next month.

Preparations are continuing for the first-ever Darlington Arts Festival, which will run throughout May and now has more than 70 events on its programme.

Co-ordinated by Darlington for Culture (DfC), the group which speaks for arts and culture in the area, organisers hope the festival will excite residents and showcase the borough’s rich variety of talent.

Many of the organisations and individuals supporting the event are reflected in the programme.

Darlington for Culture will be working in partnership with Darlington Borough Council as part of the markets department’s Love your Local Market event, in the Market Square, on Sunday, May 19.

The event, which will run between 10am and 3pm, will include an arts showcase designed to celebrate the variety of arts and cultural activities in the borough as part of the Darlington Arts Festival. Co-ordinated by DfC, the showcase will include stalls, workshops and entertainment such as music and dancing.

Other events in the programme include:

* A month-long literary festival based at Café Create and other venues, featuring readings, writing workshops and a book launch;

* Art-based events involving a wide range of artists and including exhibitions, workshops and similar events;

* A film festival to be run by Darlington Film Club, which is based at The Forum Music Centre, in Borough Road;

* A series of music events.

Some of the events are based on the theme of the fantastic because a Lewis Carroll-inspired writing competition, sponsored by the Mad Hatter Tea Company, based in North Yorkshire, is being staged.

DfC chairman John Dean said: “We’re getting really excited as May approaches.

“When we had the idea for a festival, the idea was to provide an exciting celebration of what this borough has to offer and the festival will do exactly that.

“The range of talent on display will be impressive.”

Creative Darlington, Cleveland College of Art and Design and Darlington Rotary Club are among some of the other organisations supporting the festival.

A brochure, featuring in-depth profiles of the acts lined up to take part in the festival, is being distributed around the town.

Further details about events being held as part of the festival will appear in The Northern Echo in the coming weeks. For more information, visit darlingtonforculture.org

*Singer Chantel McGregor will perform at The Forum Music Centre, in Borough Road, on Friday, May 3, in the festival's first music event. Her inspirations include Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Nicks. Tickets cost £11 in advance, call 01325-363135, or £12 at the door.